Simon SWITCH Building / b720 Fermn Vzquez ArquitectosSave this picture! Jos HeviaOffice Buildings, ShowroomBarcelona, SpainArchitects: b720 Fermn Vzquez ArquitectosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:10160 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Jos HeviaManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Cosentino, KEIM, Kingspan Insulated Panels, dormakaba, BANDALUX, FSB Franz Schneider Brakel, Interface, BERNADI, Finsa, ICONICO, Porcelanosa Grupo, Puigdellivol, Roca, Schindler, Schco, Simon, Talleres Inox, Tecnocober Lead Architect: Fermn Vzquez More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The rehabilitation of the old Simon factory to house the new Corporate Headquarters arose from the need to unify the more than 350 employees of the two previous offices under one roof. The project is based on the idea of preserving the existing building from the second half of the 20th century, while introducing elements that highlight the new use, in the centre of Barcelonas technological development.Save this picture!The Headquarters is symbolically named SWITCH, the abbreviation for Simon Worldwide Innovation Talent Community Hub, and a nod to the electrical switch, one of the companys trademark products. The old building is essentially a concrete structure; a frame of porticoes, beams and slabs and a repetitive lattice on the faade.Save this picture!Save this picture!Rehabilitating the building means, to a large extent, bringing this structure up to date. The interventions include the careful repair of lesions, the selective demolition of areas to generate new communication cores and work areas and the demolition and reconstruction of parts in bad condition, following the original logic. The traces of these interventions are not hidden, but can be seen as scars that become part of the building's history.Save this picture!Save this picture!The project highlights the exterior grid, freeing it from its obsolete sills and closures. The new skin is configured by added elements, technological cassettes, inserted between the ribs. An aluminum frame protects and regulates the perimeter of each opening, while the new glazed enclosure allows for high insulation and solar control performance.Save this picture!The lightness and reflections of these elements contrast and enhance the materiality of the concrete. The reconversion contributes to the regeneration of Poble Nou, now transformed into the 22@ district. The building becomes a link between the neighborhoods industrial past and its future: What was once a closed-off factory becomes an extrovert technological hub. The open showroom is located on the ground floor, while the upper floors house the workspaces, which open to the city through the faades new elements that are more than windows; their presence, depth, and play of reflections is complemented by the desire to serve as urban infrastructure, equipped for the installation of ephemeral elements, enhancing participation in events such as the "Llum" light festival.Save this picture!SWITCH aims to be a benchmark for quality workspaces, and an example for the reuse of industrial buildings. It takes advantage of the original structure, introducing a new space configuration, high-performance facilities and equipment, and turning the roof, now equipped with solar panels, into a green space for the employees. Intelligent management of the building optimizes its efficiency, incorporating digital tools for the shared use of workstations, meeting rooms, common spaces, or access to mobility. The rehabilitation prolongs the life of the obsolete building.Save this picture!The contrast between the old and new elements highlights the structural system while providing an optimal level of natural light, solar protection, and thermal insulation. The result is a building with a low environmental impact due to the reduction in the carbon footprint of existing materials with a long life cycle, the new energy efficiency, and its contribution to urban regeneration. The building has obtained a LEED Platinum certification.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Barcelona, SpainLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on December 15, 2024Cite: "Simon SWITCH Building / b720 Fermn Vzquez Arquitectos" [Simon SWITCH / b720 Fermn Vzquez Arquitectos] 15 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024631/simon-switch-building-b720-fermin-vazquez-arquitectos&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream